Youth skills are an important pathway to creating meaningful and dignified work for young people, especially young women.
Antonia Mutoro, National Coordinator of the Forum for African Women Educators (FAWE) Rwanda, made the remarks during a potential stakeholder meeting with young women in entrepreneurship and FAWE.
The event, which took place on July 15, was aimed at networking and creating a platform to discuss the challenges faced by young entrepreneurs.
It was also in line with the commemoration of World Youth Skills Day, a day which aims to recognize the strategic importance of training young people for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
The future of work is developing and it is up to young people to prepare and adapt to this environment, said Mutoro, adding that they are expected to think and create solutions for the problems faced mainly by their communities, but also by the state.
According to Rose Baguma, Director General of Education Policy and Analysis at the Ministry of Education, the government is pleased that World Youth Skills Day is celebrating the success of initiatives such as FAWE Rwanda.
“When we get a partner who supports what we do, it’s a great support for us. This shows that they are reliable partners and supporters of gender equality in education,” said Baguma.
Among its roles, FAWE works to support entrepreneurship skills and make an impact on the future of work for young people, but also complements the government’s efforts to empower young people to prepare them for the world of careers.
One of its beneficiaries, Beatha Siborurema, who is also the CEO and founder of SIBO engending CO Ltd, a company that manufactures tiles from plastic waste, said that the training in digital marketing and communications has helped her improve her business.
She said she learned how to ask for financial support, including how to attract potential clients.
“This day highlights the great work done by the government supporting game-changing organizations like FAWE, which contribute to the development of Rwanda through career coaching and guidance for young people,” she added.
For Ange Clarisse Gusenga, another trainee and founder of Proof Made Ltd, this is a good day to inspire young people in entrepreneurship, to never be afraid to try something challenging or underestimate themselves with the skills they have, and make better decisions for the future.
Participants in this program were able to showcase their products during the event, which they hoped would help them gain more customers.
To gain access to this program, participants apply for training, and those who qualify are given the opportunity to upgrade their skills to help prepare them for the world of career work.
The training was organized in partnership with Francophonie, the United Nations Development Program, the MasterCard Foundation and UN Women.
At least 220 participants, mostly young women, were trained in entrepreneurship, sexual reproductive health and rights, and digital literacy skills by FAWE Rwanda.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com
